171:. Initially, the team was a success, making the postseason in just their second year while drawing an average of about 14,000 per game. While the Flames missed the postseason in year three, they returned for each of the next five years. During that time, Atlanta never had a losing record despite playing in what was probably the best division in the league. Unfortunately, the Flames were not able to generate any postseason success in that time. Atlanta won just 2 playoff games in 6 appearances and their lack of success caused a drag on their ticket sales. By 1978, the team was averaging less than 11,000 per game and rumors of the team's potential relocation had begun as early as 1976. A last gasp at boosting interest in the club came when then team signed
28:
195:, the Whoopees played on Wednesday and Sunday nights, which were church nights in the state. The team was only able to attract 1,100 spectators for their games and by November the team wasn't able to make payroll. The team limped onward but, after forfeiting a game in January when the players refused to play without getting paid, the club was shut down for good in February when the
327:
announced that one of their inaugural teams would be the
Columbus Cottonmouths, keeping an ice hockey team in the city. This Cottonmouths team responded by winning the inaugural league championship and then capturing a second 7 years later. However, by 2017, mounting losses by the team forced owners
347:) and did't win a single postseason game. The following years proved to be disastrous for the team as not only were the owners locked into a legal battle over who owned the team but the team's best player, Kovalchuk, had turned down an $ 101 million contract offer and was eventually traded to
175:
in 1980 but attendance continued to decline. After the team's playoff exit, Cousins announced that he was selling the team after an estimated loss of $ 12 million over the previous 8 years. A consortium agreed to purchase the franchise for $ 16 million and the Flames were moved to
1010:
in 2023. The lack of engagement with ice hockey, while endemic to the southern states, has left
Georgia behind in its development of native players. Thus far, only a handful of Georgians have achieved any notability in terms of the sport but none were raised in the Peach state.
366:
had been playing in the region since 2003. The survival of the
Gladiators, since rebranded 'Atlanta' has helped to spur on a second wave of minor league hockey in the state as each of the previous outposts saw further attempts at establishing a franchise. While the
351:. In January 2011, reports came out that the team had lost approximately $ 130 million since the lockout and would need new investors. While some local groups showed interest in purchasing the team and keeping it in Atlanta, ultimately the Thrashers were sold to
218:
in two games, making her the first woman to play in a professional hockey game. Atlanta won the league championship the next season and the sudden popularity of the game in its second stint convinced the NHL to make another attempt at one of the
266:
that cancelled all of the following season. The timing couldn't have been worse for the
Thrashers as the team had yet to find any on-ice success and the contingent that had bought the team from Turner in 2003 was already beginning to fray.
339:
relocated in 1998. Augusta saw very little success, missing the postseason nearly as often as they made it. By 2009, the team's financial situation was so poor that they were forced to suspend operations just 18 games into the season.
238:, who had become the owner of the Hawks in the meantime, and stocked its team with promising young talent. The thrashers had poor results in their first few seasons but that allowed the team to draft highly regarded prospects
322:
franchise, the
Cottonmouths were able to continue in their new league. Unfortunately, the cost of playing in the ECHL outpaced the Cottonmouths' finances and the team was forced to relocate in 2004. That summer, the new
301:
first appeared in 1996 The team saw a great deal of success in a short period of time, winning the league championship in its second season while finishing as runners-up in both 2000 and 2001. After the
220:
1185:
343:
While
Georgia was able to see some success with its minor league teams, the Thrashers were never able to get on track. After the lockout ended, Atlanta made just one playoff appearance (
294:
moved into the
Coliseum and managed to survive for three years despite playing in three different leagues. However, by 2005 the team could no longer sustain itself and the Trax folded.
1341:
67:
155:
began expanding in the late 1960s that
Georgie received any attention. While the NHL had initially planned to slow down its expansion after 1970, the founding of the
63:
1257:
978:
641:
211:
1479:
1219:
270:
While the
Thrashers soldiered on, several attempts at establishing minor league teams were made. Macon had received a second team in 1996, also called the
811:
287:
1071:
1484:
1175:
963:
962:
147:
One of the most southern states in the US, Georgia was largely passed over by ice hockey circles for most of the 20th century, as was most of the
614:
966:
972:
969:
1351:
1374:
352:
1428:
975:
139:. The state has seen many expansion teams at multiple levels but few have been able to establish a foothold in the public consciousness.
965:
973:
967:
307:
1251:
1159:
1446:
970:
964:
202:
The state was left without any established team for over a decade but ice hockey did eventually return to the Omni. In 1992, the
501:
136:
1489:
937:
167:, purchased the rights for an expansion franchise for $ 6 million with the team set to begin play in 1972 at the newly built
113:
109:
974:
286:
franchise lasted just one year before heading out of state. One final attempt at putting a team in Macon was made when the
328:
Wanda and Shelby Amos to search for a buyer. when none were forthcoming, the team suspended operations after the season.
1289:
1241:
117:
976:
755:
585:
105:
971:
815:
383:
to win a league championship in 2021. With the second wave of minor league teams appearing to be more successful,
258:. While Heatly would miss more than half of the year recovering from the injuries, the crash killed his teammate,
344:
1207:
196:
156:
968:
263:
311:
259:
223:. The Knights played two more seasons before being forced to relocate when the Omni was demolished in 1996.
1098:
255:
517:
488:
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376:
319:
172:
152:
1122:
1215:
837:
695:
682:
668:
506:
303:
298:
1002:
Georgia, despite being the 8th most populous state in the nation, has as many players registered with
864:
771:
601:
297:
While Macon had its difficulties, another
Georgia city was the target of minor league expansion. The
283:
279:
188:
131:
1304:
1036:
655:
363:
271:
207:
362:
In the wake of the Thrashers' departure, Atlanta was not bereft of professional ice hockey as the
1180:
430:
368:
1384:
27:
1379:
1247:
1155:
845:
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525:
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231:
924:
872:
750:
723:
636:
580:
227:
215:
932:
628:
448:
438:
336:
203:
262:. The situation left a pall over the club for the entire year that was compounded by the
1322:
379:
were founded in 2019 and managed to navigate their way through the choppy waters of the
1148:
1026:
806:
779:
663:
609:
593:
572:
535:
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243:
192:
184:
1473:
1046:
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763:
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885:
715:
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372:
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239:
1031:
251:
160:
1453:
1279:
1003:
798:
291:
235:
148:
51:
1342:"Columbus Cottonmouths owner looks to sell team; searching for new ownership"
1406:
371:
only lasted three seasons, their relocation met with more success and the
1007:
356:
250:. Unfortunately, the team was struck by tragedy when Heatley crashed his
274:
but it had gone bankrupt after five years. In their immediate wake, the
1284:
183:
During the Flames' initial success, a minor league team was founded in
177:
230:
was built as a home for the Hawks and the new expansion team, the
1305:"The NHL in Atlanta: Why Chapter 3 could be completely different"
1072:"USA Hockey encourages kids with NHL dreams to play other sports"
1346:
877:
850:
819:
784:
728:
699:
530:
472:
443:
324:
315:
275:
206:
were founded as the minor league affiliate for the newly formed
191:
were a disaster from the start. While playing in the 9,000-seat
100:
961:
1150:
The Calgary Flames: The Hottest Players & Greatest Games
1429:"Atlanta Thrashers Will Likely Be Sold For $ 110 Million"
310:
in 2001, Columbus lost its two closest rivals (Macon and
902:
550:
408:
1323:"Macon Whoopee Statistics and History [ECHL]"
387:
became the newest hockey city in the state when the
375:
were able to win the SPHL championship in 2017. The
1407:"Filmmaker Stephen Rollins interested in Thrashers"
83:
73:
57:
45:
37:
20:
1147:
314:) This led the team to apply for admission in the
331:Augusta too had its own minor league team in the
1280:"Atlanta Knights National Anthem - Rick Morgan"
1240:Kearney, Mark; Ray, Randy (30 September 2006).
834:
768:
712:
652:
598:
514:
456:
8:
1303:Sean Gentile; Michael Russo (June 5, 2023).
1176:"Unhappy Anniversary for the Macon Whoopees"
210:. In its first season, Atlanta captured an
159:caused the league to expedite the process.
1447:"2021-22 Season Final Registration Report"
1063:
98:
17:
353:True North Sports & Entertainment
7:
221:largest media markets in the country
1480:Ice hockey in Georgia (U.S. state)
1208:"Hockey makes its return to Macon"
318:and, after purchasing the defunct
214:division title and also showcased
14:
1373:Byler, Billy (December 2, 2008).
1260:from the original on 24 June 2021
1292:from the original on 2014-06-09.
26:
1485:Ice hockey in the United States
1222:from the original on 2018-02-08
1188:from the original on 2018-02-08
226:Over the next three years, the
1340:Platta, Dave (March 2, 2017).
1154:, Overtime Books, p. 37,
839:Columbus Cottonmouths (second)
234:. The Thrashers were owned by
135:has a very mixed history with
1:
1243:Whatever Happened To-- ?
1174:Fierro, Robert (1976-02-22).
254:just before the start of the
1427:Ozanian, Mike (2011-05-02).
1184:. New York City. p. 2.
921:
861:
795:
739:
679:
625:
569:
485:
427:
288:Atlantic Coast Hockey League
1123:"Flames buying own tickets"
1054:† relocated from elsewhere.
952:† relocated from elsewhere.
1506:
1206:Pope, Bobby (2015-10-26).
1097:Mellor, Bob (1971-11-09),
1099:"The start of a long war"
90:
25:
1129:, p. 10, 1976-12-22
290:was formed in 2002. The
1015:Notable players by city
773:Macon Whoopee (second)
519:Savannah Ghost Pirates
490:Columbus River Dragons
391:were founded in 2022.
389:Savannah Ghost Pirates
377:Columbus River Dragons
320:Hampton Roads Admirals
278:relocated a team from
151:. It wasn't until the
1490:History of ice hockey
991:Active (out of state)
684:Columbus Cottonmouths
507:Columbus Civic Center
299:Columbus Cottonmouths
68:Women's national team
21:Ice hockey in Georgia
1146:Boer, Peter (2006),
1387:on December 6, 2008
1037:Jean-Marc Pelletier
1020:Raised out of state
364:Gwinnett Gladiators
208:Tampa Bay Lightning
163:, the owner of the
64:Men's national team
1181:The New York Times
866:Augusta RiverHawks
432:Atlanta Gladiators
369:Augusta RiverHawks
1380:Augusta Chronicle
1288:. June 27, 2008.
1076:ESPN The Magazine
1055:
953:
949:
948:
942:Atlanta IceForum
891:
890:
744:Atlanta Thrashers
544:
543:
381:COVID-19 pandemic
232:Atlanta Thrashers
128:
127:
85:Club competitions
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1436:
1424:
1418:
1417:
1415:
1414:
1403:
1397:
1396:
1394:
1392:
1383:. Archived from
1375:"Lynx fold team"
1370:
1364:
1363:
1361:
1359:
1354:on March 7, 2017
1350:. Archived from
1337:
1331:
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1319:
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951:
927:
926:Atlanta Capitals
903:
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718:
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658:
631:
604:
575:
551:
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491:
462:
433:
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306:merged with the
76:
60:
59:National team(s)
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30:
18:
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1108:
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1096:
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1091:
1081:
1079:
1078:. June 26, 2013
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630:Atlanta Knights
629:
602:
573:
549:
518:
489:
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449:Gas South Arena
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407:
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337:Raleigh IceCaps
204:Atlanta Knights
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86:
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58:
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33:
32:Flag of Georgia
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11:
5:
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1127:Florence Times
1114:
1103:Ottawa Citizen
1089:
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1049:
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1027:Eric Chouinard
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603:Macon Whoopees
597:
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594:Calgary Flames
591:
588:
583:
578:
574:Atlanta Flames
568:
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558:
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541:
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536:Enmarket Arena
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478:Macon Coliseum
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282:but the third
256:2003–04 season
244:Ilya Kovalchuk
193:Macon Coliseum
189:Macon Whoopees
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125:
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121:
94:
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47:Governing body
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1259:
1255:
1253:9781550026542
1249:
1245:
1244:
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1233:
1221:
1217:
1216:The Telegraph
1213:
1209:
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1199:
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1161:1-897277-07-5
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1100:
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1047:Nathan Staios
1045:
1043:
1042:Francis Spain
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769:
765:
764:Winnipeg Jets
762:
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657:Macon Whoopee
653:
648:
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621:
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584:
582:
579:
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563:Years Active
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355:and moved to
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253:
249:
248:Kari Lehtonen
245:
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237:
233:
229:
228:Philips Arena
224:
222:
217:
216:Manon Rhéaume
213:
209:
205:
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194:
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181:
179:
174:
170:
169:Omni Coliseum
166:
165:Atlanta Hawks
162:
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133:
119:
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111:
107:
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99:
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69:
65:
62:
56:
53:
50:
44:
41:United States
40:
36:
29:
24:
19:
16:
1457:. Retrieved
1441:
1432:
1422:
1411:. Retrieved
1409:. 2011-02-17
1401:
1389:. Retrieved
1385:the original
1378:
1368:
1356:. Retrieved
1352:the original
1345:
1335:
1326:
1317:
1309:The Athletic
1298:
1283:
1274:
1262:. Retrieved
1242:
1235:
1224:. Retrieved
1211:
1201:
1190:. Retrieved
1179:
1169:
1149:
1141:
1131:, retrieved
1126:
1117:
1107:, retrieved
1105:, p. 23
1102:
1092:
1080:. Retrieved
1075:
1066:
1052:
1001:
993:
990:
989:
986:
983:
982:
980:
950:
923:
886:Macon Mayhem
863:
836:
797:
770:
741:
717:Augusta Lynx
714:
681:
654:
627:
600:
571:
516:
487:
461:Macon Mayhem
458:
429:
400:Professional
373:Macon Mayhem
361:
342:
333:Augusta Lynx
330:
296:
269:
240:Dany Heatley
225:
201:
199:intervened.
182:
146:
130:
129:
75:First played
15:
1391:January 28,
1082:October 28,
1032:Mark Mowers
280:Tallahassee
252:Ferrari 360
161:Tom Cousins
1474:Categories
1454:USA Hockey
1413:2011-01-26
1226:2018-02-04
1192:2018-02-04
1133:2012-08-29
1109:2012-08-26
1059:References
1004:USA Hockey
882:2010–2013
855:2004–2017
828:2004–2005
800:Macon Trax
789:2001–2002
760:1999–2011
733:1998–2008
706:2001–2004
673:1996–2001
646:1992–1996
619:1973–1974
590:1972–1980
349:New Jersey
335:after the
312:Huntsville
292:Macon Trax
260:Dan Snyder
236:Ted Turner
149:Deep South
137:ice hockey
103:(college)
52:USA Hockey
1212:Macon.com
826:2003–2004
824:2002–2003
704:1996–2001
173:Jim Craig
1459:July 18,
1358:March 6,
1327:HockeyDB
1290:Archived
1264:11 April
1258:Archived
1220:Archived
1186:Archived
1008:Nebraska
957:Timeline
918:Founded
858:Defunct
846:Columbus
831:Defunct
792:Defunct
736:Defunct
709:Defunct
691:Columbus
676:Defunct
649:Defunct
622:Defunct
547:Inactive
526:Savannah
497:Columbus
424:Founded
385:Savannah
357:Winnipeg
187:but the
120:(junior)
1285:YouTube
998:Players
912:League
873:Augusta
751:Atlanta
724:Augusta
637:Atlanta
581:Atlanta
560:League
418:League
284:Whoopee
272:Whoopee
264:lockout
178:Calgary
143:History
132:Georgia
38:Country
1433:Forbes
1250:
1158:
984:Active
945:2015
933:Duluth
915:Arena
899:Active
894:Junior
482:2015
453:2003
439:Duluth
421:Arena
405:Active
246:, and
114:NorPac
1450:(PDF)
938:NA3HL
909:City
906:Team
807:Macon
780:Macon
664:Macon
610:Macon
566:Fate
557:City
554:Team
540:2022
511:2019
468:Macon
415:City
412:Team
395:Teams
185:Macon
110:NA3HL
1461:2023
1393:2021
1360:2017
1347:WTVM
1266:2021
1248:ISBN
1156:ISBN
1084:2016
878:SPHL
851:SPHL
820:SPHL
816:WHA2
812:ACHL
785:ECHL
729:ECHL
700:ECHL
531:ECHL
502:FPHL
473:SPHL
444:ECHL
345:2007
325:SPHL
316:ECHL
308:WPHL
276:ECHL
118:WSHL
106:AWHL
101:NCAA
95:List
79:1972
1006:as
756:NHL
696:CHL
669:CHL
642:IHL
615:SHL
586:NHL
304:CHL
212:IHL
197:IRS
157:WHA
153:NHL
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